GRAND BLANC TWP, MI – A portrait in flowers will honor a Grand Blanc Township woman and other organ donors during the Rose Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena,
Calif.

Teresa Cassavoy, 39, of Grand Blanc Township died March 21
from a blood clot that herniated her brain stem.

And on New Year's Day, she will be honored alongside 80
other organ donors as part of Donate Life Rose Parade float's memorial
floragraphs – which honors deceased organ, eye and tissue donors from
throughout the country.

"It's probably going to bring out a lot of emotion," said
Teresa Cassavoy's husband, Bryon Cassavoy, about the upcoming parade Wednesday, Jan. 1. "We're all proud of
what she did. It changed a lot of the family members – that they're organ
donors, too."

As part of the honor, about 14 members of Teresa Cassavoy's family
are going to Pasadena, Calif., to watch the parade and view the float.

Bryon Cassavoy said his wife faced a lot of major setbacks in
her life – she was born with a club foot, had been struck by a car when she was
a young child and had suffered strokes – but she never let those things get her
down. She was always happy and joking, he said.

Teresa Cassavoy always put others before herself and had checked to
be an organ donor on her license – something she wanted to do, Bryon Cassavoy
said.

Betsy Miner-Swartz, Gift of Life Michigan communications
specialist, said Gift of Life Michigan nominated Teresa Cassavoy for the honor.

"Her story just sort of resonated to us – 39-year-old mom,
died suddenly," Miner-Swartz said.

Sue Herrick Pilon, 55, of Wyandotte, is a Michigander who will ride on the Donate Life Rose Parade float. Pilon, a breast cancer
survivor, received donated tissue, which was used during her reconstructive
surgery.

"It's a neat opportunity for Gift of Life and the state of
Michigan to really honor the gifts that are being given in our state to save
lives," Miner-Swartz said about having representatives featured on the float.

Surviving Teresa Cassavoy is her husband Bryon Cassavoy, children Timothy
Tyson, Rebekah (David) Struk, and Connor Cassavoy; and many more family
members.

Miner-Swartz
said the Donate Life Rose Parade float will be in the 15th spot in
the parade and should appear on television within the first 30 minutes of the parade.